Scripture Focus for July 16 R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest. Lk 8:8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear. Mt 13:1-23 Throughout this discourse, Jesus will offer several parables to illustrate for his listeners what he […]
Scripture Focus for July 2 R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Ps89:2a Are you righteous? Are you welcoming Jesus? “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me…And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” – Jesus (Mt 10:37-42) Giving and Receiving Christ The only real oneness possible [is] Christ in us….In Holy Communion, millions of small hosts are given to millions of people; this does not mean Christ is divided into millions, but that the millions are made one in Christ. {Caryll met a woman during a Mass where there were no Communion hosts to receive. A ragged woman told her to come and a priest would divide her reserved host for them both. Caryll went. She gave Christ to me, Christ’s Passion to the world.] At first sight, suffering seems broken up, unfairly divided. In reality it is the human race that is divided, suffering is a communion that makes us one, as sacramental Communion does. We can give Christ’s Passion to one another, as the poor woman gave Christ to me, and we can comfort Christ in one another in doing so…He gave us his Passion in his body, gave us himself, his suffering and his sacrifice, […]
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Psalm 95:8 The Woman At The Well Pope Benedict XVI wrote that “she thirsts for life itself and that all the assuaging that she seeks and finds cannot slake this living, elemental thirst…. There comes to light the real dilemma, the deep-seated waywardness, of their existence: she is […]
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. cf. Psalm 27:1a (this is a great phrase in times of trouble to meditate on. Do you believe? Can you trust in God? Come, Follow Me From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” As he was walking by the Sea […]
The Greed Trap: It is easy to regard possessions as treasures and to find so much pleasure in them that we want more and more…How do we let ourselves fall into this trap? Certainly, advertisements play a role in convincing us we need to own everything that is new and improved…Our own insecurities also play a role—the more we possess, […]
Are you struggling? Tired? In pain? Discouraged? “I know from experience that God makes up for what is lacking with great generosity. He gives us inwardly what outward circumstances deny. With him and by him I must become more loving, strong, and peaceful, live the inner life more, and yet give myself generously to those I love and to all […]
Psalm Response: The Lord is kind and merciful. Ps 103:8 Last week, Jesus gave us words to live by, The ‘Beatitudes,’ or blessings. Today, Jesus reminds us to be compassionate and forgiving. Jesus continues to explain what he means and how we should live. We are so quick to judge others harshly. Would we want God to judge us that […]
Response: Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Psalm 1 The BEATITUDES And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said, “Blessed are you…” Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. Luke 6 We cherish these words of Jesus even today. The ‘Beatitudes,’ or blessings, that Christ gives us takes everything to the next level. We even see that the prophets have said this before! Their message might have been said with a “woe to you if you are satisfied” instead of blessed are you. The paradox of our faith shows itself in these blessings. How can we laugh when we feel like crying? This distinction can be hard to understand for us today. You may have heard ‘happy are those’ in a different translation. We know that we can’t be happy all the time. Words for our blessings are satisfied, comforted and can experience the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s a different way of looking at the challenges we have in life. Interesting that the following verses in Luke Chapter 6 are love your enemies and the Golden rule. Check out the next posts! The Beatitudes are the way to live that goes beyond the 10 Commandments. Taking it up a notch! Why? What do we think? Then how do […]
All things are possible with God.
Scripture focus for the February 7 Mass Jesus Heals the Sick all over Galilee Today’s Mass begins with Job crying out to the Lord in despair. Today, we might echo our own despair. Is this all there is? Why is life so hard? Why can’t I have an easy life like that guy over there? Can’t I just get a […]
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